Greece arrests more than 280 suspected arsonists this year

Arrests and investigations

A 59-year-old was arrested on Wednesday in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. As ERT reported, there is suspicion that the man is alleged to have been involved in five fires within just two weeks. The fire service authority is now investigating the possible motive and is checking whether the suspect is listed as an accused person in further cases.

Outside the major cities as well, emergency services continue to battle the flames. In the greater Athens area, residents had to leave their homes repeatedly as fires spread to wooded hills in the Attica region. Authorities had previously issued the highest wildfire alert level due to the ongoing drought and strong winds.

While police arrests are increasing, so too is the political debate over the role of individual perpetrators. Observers point out that many fires are attributable to negligent behavior or deliberate arson, such as burning glass bottles that ignite forest floors in the summer heat. Prosecution is classified as a priority by the Interior Ministry.

Political reaction and measures

The Greek government had announced a tougher approach to arson ahead of the season. The fire service authority also stepped up its public outreach work and called on the population via television to report suspicious observations immediately. Mitsotaki, a minister in the cabinet, pointed to the importance of prevention at an earlier event.

International news agencies such as AFP and APA picked up the report from Athens. Correspondents stressed that the high number of arrests is not a purely statistical phenomenon but reflects intensified investigations and the evaluation of tips from the public. The fire service authority coordinates the evaluation together with the police.

Authorities are appealing to walkers and drivers not to leave any waste in forested areas and to consistently avoid open fires. With the onset of summer heatwaves, the risk of uncontrolled fires is rising in Greece, which is why the warning system is currently at its highest level. Emergency services remain on heightened alert according to the fire service.

Ongoing fire danger

At the same time, firefighting operations continue in several parts of the country. The exact number of hectares of forest affected in total is currently still being compiled by the authorities. What is clear is that this year's season has placed a heavy strain on the fire service's capacity and that international firefighting assistance has been requested.

Looking ahead to the coming weeks, meteorologists still expect above-average temperatures and a lack of rainfall. The wildfire danger therefore remains high across large parts of Greece, and authorities expect a persistently high number of operations.

The arrest of the 59-year-old in Thessaloniki is seen as an example of the ongoing investigations. Whether the man is also responsible for further fires is currently being examined according to the fire service authority. A date for an initial court hearing has not yet been made public.